InBios International — a medical diagnostic company based in Seattle — will receive a $5.1 million boost from HHS to expedite the development of a blood test that may reduce the time for results from days to hours.
The current blood test used to diagnose Zika was developed by the CDC and requires two to three days to return results and must be conducted in labs designated by the agency. The InBios blood test has the potential to return results in four hours and could be used in commercial and healthcare facilities.
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"The situation in Puerto Rico, the increasing number of Zika cases in the continental United States, and the potential for local transmission are of great concern," said Nicole Lurie, MD, HHS' assistant secretary for preparedness and response. "Doctors and patients need Zika test results quickly so that healthcare providers can offer appropriate guidance and treatment to their patients, particularly pregnant women and their partners."
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